Air Belgium in 2018

[Passenger]

ABA at Bordeaux for C-Check...

Isn't that very early, a C-check after a couple of weeks in service?

[KriVa]

A C-check doesn't depend on when the aircraft started flying for a new operator. It depends on the lifetime of the aircraft, and certain parameters which can limit the time between C-checks even more.
Since these aren't new planes, it's hard to tell where they are in the cycle between checks.
Air Belgium probably knew a C-check was coming up for ABA, but they decided to get a few flights done first, before sending it off for the check.
On top of that, they may have negotiated for Airbus to pick up the tab on this one, wouldn't be the first time.

[Poiu]

A C-check doesn't depend on when the aircraft started flying for a new operator. It depends on the lifetime of the aircraft, and certain parameters which can limit the time between C-checks even more.
Since these aren't new planes, it's hard to tell where they are in the cycle between checks.
Air Belgium probably knew a C-check was coming up for ABA, but they decided to get a few flights done first, before sending it off for the check.
On top of that, they may have negotiated for Airbus to pick up the tab on this one, wouldn't be the first time.

All correct.
From memory a C check is due every 18 months, 2000 flight hours or 2000 cycles, whichever comes first.
Every 4th C is a D check.

[sn26567]

The departure of KF852 from Hong Kong had been delayed by more than 3 hours today due to ATC restrictions above China. But what is OO-ABB doing right now?

[sn26567]

Back on track?

[Bracebrace]

As it seems to be climbing, they were probably burning off fuel to be able to climb due to ATC restrictions. ATC altitude restrictions in these regions happen quite frequently.

[KriVa]

Another possibility:
Late coordination for the aircraft to proceed from one section of controlled airspace to the next, as such it may have entered the holding until it was cleared into the next sector. Doesn’t happen that often, but it does happen.

[Passenger]

A C-check doesn't depend on when the aircraft started flying for a new operator. It depends on the lifetime of the aircraft, and certain parameters which can limit the time between C-checks even more.
Since these aren't new planes, it's hard to tell where they are in the cycle between checks.
Air Belgium probably knew a C-check was coming up for ABA, but they decided to get a few flights done first, before sending it off for the check.
On top of that, they may have negotiated for Airbus to pick up the tab on this one, wouldn't be the first time.

All correct.
From memory a C check is due every 18 months, 2000 flight hours or 2000 cycles, whichever comes first.
Every 4th C is a D check.

All correct, but irrelevant. Before they had their AOC, they had minimal staff on their payroll and they had no possible wetleases. So that period was the best time to have an aircraft AOG for a while.

[Passenger]

The departure of KF852 from Hong Kong had been delayed by more than 3 hours today due to ATC restrictions above China...

Strange: most of the other flights around KF851's ETD departed on time or with a small delay. Example: KLM to AMS 12h20 -> 12h52 and CX to LHR 12h15 -> 12h48.

[KriVa]

Slots have a strange way of messing up different flights at different ways. Two aircraft with the exact same destination from the same origin may be impacted by slots in an entirely different way.
Those two other flights for example may have been able to climb over a sector that imposed a large restriction, while the Air Belgium flight was not able to do so. And that’s just one example of how a severe slot might impact one flight, but not another. They may have missed their slot, which puts you at the back of the queue. You might get an improvement, but don’t count on it.
There are more than a few parameters that go into slot calculation. If you draw the shortest straw on one of them, you’re out of luck.

EDIT:
Some further info about the inflight “hold”: the hold seems to have happened when passing from Kunming FIR/UIR to Lanzhou FIR/UIR. I have quite a strong hunch my previous idea was correct, and they did indeed have to hold “waiting their turn” to enter Lanzhou FIR/UIR. As I said, nothing unusual, but not a daily occurrence either.

[sn26567]

Thanks, KriVa, for your clear explanations.

[Homo Aeroportus]

KF852 routing vs others.

A picture is worth ....



H.A.

[TLspotting]

KF852 routing vs others.


Screenshot 2018-07-06 17.48.39.png


A picture is worth ....



H.A.

Usual route I guess...

ABE now in the data of FR24.

Seems AB will still fly for AF at least until 14/7!

[Desert Rat]

To hold like this already happened to me before on a KLM flight between chinese airspace and Mongolia...nothing unusual.

[TLspotting]

Seems AB will still fly for AF at least until 14/7!

Now until 24/7 at least !

AB also delayed scheduled time for today due to lack of planes :

9 July 2018 :

KF851 CRL-HKG 21:25-14:55

10 July 2018 :

KF852 HKG-CRL 16:55-23:25

Lack of planes due to ABA at BOD until Friday and ABE still flying for AF...

[Passenger]

AB also delayed scheduled time for today due to lack of planes :
9 July 2018 :
KF851 CRL-HKG 21:25-14:55
10 July 2018 :
KF852 HKG-CRL 16:55-23:25
Lack of planes due to ABA at BOD until Friday and ABE still flying for AF...

Well, if you have one aircraft and you plan CRL-HKG-CRL on Sunday 14h10 ànd on Monday 14h10, it's quite predictable that this second one will be delayed. I can hope for Air Belgium that their passengers love the airline that much, that they won't ask for the EU-indemnity of 600 € for a heavily delayed long haul.

[TLspotting]

AB also delayed scheduled time for today due to lack of planes :
9 July 2018 :
KF851 CRL-HKG 21:25-14:55
10 July 2018 :
KF852 HKG-CRL 16:55-23:25
Lack of planes due to ABA at BOD until Friday and ABE still flying for AF...

Well, if you have one aircraft and you plan CRL-HKG-CRL on Sunday 14h10 ànd on Monday 14h10, it's quite predictable that this second one will be delayed. I can hope for Air Belgium that their passengers love the airline that much, that they won't ask for the EU-indemnity of 600 € for a heavily delayed long haul.

Maybe but both flights were rescheduled, so it was expected something was going to be wrong...

[Amavro]

The flight of tonight was almost full of passengers ! Let's hope that the passenger load factor keeps climbing.

[convair]

The flight of tonight was almost full of passengers ! Let's hope that the passenger load factor keeps climbing.

Chinese tourists going back home or european pax as well?

[Zax]

Hi there was 244 passengers as i heard and most of them Asians as i saw !